Does it need tap water?

No, always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water to avoid mineral buildup.

Why is my plant dying in winter?

It is likely entering its natural dormancy phase and will return in spring.

Plant guide

Common butterwort.

Pinguicula vulgaris

Pronounced pin-gwick-yoo-luh vul-GAIR-iss

Also known as Common Butterwort

Butterworts are fascinating carnivorous plants that use sticky leaves to trap small insects. They grow as low rosettes and produce lovely spurred flowers. These plants thrive in boggy conditions that mimic their natural wetland homes.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Carnivorous perennial
Light: Bright indirect light with some morning sun.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 4 to 6 inches wide
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist using only distilled or rainwater to avoid mineral buildup. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate poor water quality or incorrect light levels. Ensure the plant has high humidity to keep the sticky traps functioning properly.

Watering: Keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of distilled water at all times.
Feeding: Do not fertilize as these plants capture their own nutrients from insects.
Pruning: Simply remove dead or decaying leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant outgrows its container or the soil breaks down.
Soil: Peat moss and perlite mix
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

The plant has outgrown the surface of the moss.
The soil medium has begun to break down or smell stagnant.

Safety

People: There is no evidence of toxicity in humans.
Children: The plant is non-toxic, but the leaves are delicate and should not be handled by small children.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for human consumption.

How to identify it

Rosette of fleshy pale green leaves
Leaves have a greasy, sticky surface
Small purple or white spurred flowers
Grows close to the ground

Height: 0.05 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.05 to 0.1m
Leaves: light green, deciduous
Flowers: purple, violet, white, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

Fungus GnatsCommon
Root RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Gray MoldUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, leaf cuttings, division
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Allow the plant to experience a cold period to trigger dormancy. Keep the soil barely moist but not waterlogged during this time.
In containers: It grows well in shallow pots or bog bowls, provided they are kept sitting in a tray of distilled water.

Leaf Cuttings

Gently pull a healthy leaf from the base of the plant.
Place the leaf on damp sphagnum moss.
Keep in bright, indirect light until small plantlets emerge.

Group carnivorous plants together in a bog garden to ensure they all receive the same water quality and light levels.

Grows well with

Sundew · They share similar requirements for wet, acidic, nutrient poor soil.
Bog Orchid · These orchids thrive in the same boggy conditions as butterworts.

Similar species

Mexican Butterwort · A popular relative that is easier to grow indoors but lacks the cold hardiness of P. vulgaris.

Science

Family: Lentibulariaceae
Genus: Pinguicula
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northern hemisphere, including North America and Europe.
Conservation: It is protected in some regions due to habitat loss in wetlands.

It grows in wet, lime rich fens and bogs where it supplements its diet with insects to gain nitrogen.

Value to wildlife: captures small insects
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: bog garden specimen, terrarium plant, natural insect control

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 8/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 1/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need tap water?: No, always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water to avoid mineral buildup.
Why is my plant dying in winter?: It is likely entering its natural dormancy phase and will return in spring.

Where the name comes from

The name Pinguicula comes from the Latin pinguis, meaning fat, referring to the greasy feel of the leaves. Vulgaris is Latin for common.

Good to know

It is a carnivorous plant that uses sticky leaves to trap gnats.
The leaves contain digestive enzymes that break down prey.
It thrives in nutrient poor soils where other plants struggle.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.